Vietnam Veterans Sue to Block Trump's 'Independence Arch' in D.C.

Lawsuit alleges the proposed monument would obstruct historic views and require congressional approval.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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A group of Vietnam War veterans and a historian have filed a lawsuit to halt the construction of President Donald Trump's planned 'Independence Arch' monument in Washington, D.C. The plaintiffs argue the project requires congressional approval and would obstruct historically significant views between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Why it matters

The proposed 'Independence Arch' monument is part of Trump's vision to mark the United States' 250th birthday, but the lawsuit alleges it would erode the historical integrity of D.C.'s existing monument landscape and potentially pose hazards to air travel near Reagan National Airport.

The details

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by three Vietnam War veterans - Michael Lemmon, Shaun Byrnes, and Jon Gundersen - along with retired Virginia historian Calder Loth. They are seeking to block the construction of the towering arch, which could reportedly reach up to 250 feet tall, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The plaintiffs argue the arch would 'dishonor' the military service of veterans and 'obstruct the symbolic and inspiring view' from the cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial.

  • The lawsuit was filed on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • President Trump announced plans to begin construction of the 'Independence Arch' within two months in late January 2026.

The players

Michael Lemmon

A Vietnam War veteran who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Shaun Byrnes

A Vietnam War veteran who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Jon Gundersen

A Vietnam War veteran who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Calder Loth

A retired Virginia historian who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has proposed the 'Independence Arch' monument.

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What they’re saying

“The planned Arch, by obstructing the symbolic and inspiring view from Arlington National Cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial, would dishonor their military and foreign service and the legacy of their comrades and other veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery.”

— Plaintiffs (Lawsuit)

“Its location on Memorial Circle would situate the monument on an axis between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, obstructing a line of sight that was designed to represent the unification of the Nation following the Civil War and that has existed for nearly a century. It will block historically significant reciprocal views between those two memorials that were consciously designed and that have existed for nearly a century. It will dominate the views of and the relationship between the surrounding memorials.”

— Plaintiffs (Lawsuit)

“I'd like it to be the biggest one of all. We're the biggest, most powerful nation.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Air Force One interview)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to grant an injunction to halt construction of the 'Independence Arch' while the lawsuit proceeds.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's vision for grand new monuments in Washington, D.C. and concerns from veterans and historians about preserving the historical integrity and design of the nation's capital. The outcome could set an important precedent for the approval process of future presidential monument proposals.